Adam Booth

Adam Booth's storytelling blends traditional folklore, music, and an awareness of contemporary Appalachia. His original cinematic style, both humorous and touching, is influenced by generations of diverse storytellers from West Virginia. A nationally touring artist, his professional telling appearances include premiere storytelling events across the United States, such as the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, the National Storytelling Festival, and Teller-In-Residence at the International Storytelling Center (three times), as well as resident at the Banff Spoken Word program in Alberta, Canada, multiple storytelling and music events in twenty-six states, and collaborations with the West Virginia Dance Company, Goose Route Dance Company, Frederick Chorale, and Hagerstown Choral Arts Society. Equally at home as a teller and educator, his research fellowships and presentations have included the Berea Appalachian Sound Archives Fellowship, Ghost Ranch, the National Storytelling Conference, the Appalachian Studies Association Conference, the National Endowment for the Humanities Voices from the Misty Mountains summer seminars and institute, and a commission from the National Academy of Medicine. He is a member of the Recording Academy (GRAMMYs) and his stories and recordings have been honored with many national awards, including a Parents’ Choice Gold Award, two Parents' Choice Silver Honors, five Storytelling World Awards and Honors, the National Storytelling Network's J.J. Reneaux Mentorship Grant, and four West Virginia Liars’ Contest wins. Adam serves as the inaugural Storyteller-In-Residence at Shepherd University and is founding artistic director of the Speak Story Series, now in its eighth season. Adam is most at home sharing stories and music with the next generation of listeners and tellers throughout Appalachia.

Adam provides instruction to groups and in one-on-one sessions, both in person and online. His teaching experiences range from elementary schools to universities, gifted high school summer programs to intensive weekend-length workshops for adults. He stresses technique, artistry, creativity, and analysis and helps each learned develop an individualized approach to the art of story.